The red squirrel climbing aider

[drew13]

Options: I first started doing this with cranford rope steps. I can do it but it does require some athleticism to stand one footed on the step while you put your next step on. But the benefit is the rope steps are smaller and lighter.

This looks pretty interesting, Red - thanks for sharing. Pursuant to what you mentioned above about the cranford rope steps, I might have something that will help.... I mentioned in a different thread that I used to hang aiders from the cranford steps but experienced the same thing as you - it was hard to stand on one little step while hanging the next step. I came up with a quick and easy fix using the leftover steps from my hawk helium sticks that I shortened. This approach also makes my aiders stay open a lot better, too... see pics to understand what I mean. Hope it helps.

 

[EricS]

Just ordered another ropeman 1 and some new webbing. Didn't need the webbing but bought 13.50 worth to save 8.00 on shipping.
If it gets here by the weekend I'm trying it out.
Red Upon first look your foot looked long. On second thought is it long enough to keep the ascender from ever coming into contact with the stepp.

 

[redsquirrel]

I'd be really careful about adjusting the side up to much for each step..... You do have to come down and in the dark that might be a bit troublesome if moved to far on the way up?

I have not done this in the dark yet, but I don't see it being a problem (for me). I find it much easier to go a further distance on the way down than up because I can extend my leg down to make contact rather than reach my leg up to gain a solid step.

That being said, if I am standing on the step with my right foot, I will have then tether on the tree about a foot above that. I put my left foot in the loop and start lowering it down while keeping the ascender open. As soon as I feel it is down as far as I can reach I let go of the ascender, it closes and I put my weight in it and step down. On the way down I only have weight on the aider loop for a brief moment at any time.

Dave, this would probably seem a lot easier in a video. I will put one together at some point.

 

[redsquirrel]

@redsquirrel how do you move the tether up if it is below the step that you are currently on? seems like it would need to be above the jim stepp, but the pics are seeming like you put the tether below the step.

I had to climb down and leave the stepps in place to take photos lol. The aider is attached above the stepp. Reach as high as you can to put the aider on, attach stepp at chest level. Look at the first photo, that is a good example and ignore the stepp above it.

 

[redsquirrel]

This looks pretty interesting, Red - thanks for sharing. Pursuant to what you mentioned above about the cranford rope steps, I might have something that will help.... I mentioned in a different thread that I used to hang aiders from the cranford steps but experienced the same thing as you - it was hard to stand on one little step while hanging the next step. I came up with a quick and easy fix using the leftover steps from my hawk helium sticks that I shortened. This approach also makes my aiders stay open a lot better, too... see pics to understand what I mean. Hope it helps.

Very interesting... The step stays stable in the horizontal direction?

 

[DaveT1963]

Definitely sounds like a good system. I may play with it some. However on my bottom Stepp I would just throw on a two step aider and tie on head high.... add two more steps and your there with foot ascender attachment, will get me to 16-18 foot where I am comfortable.

 

[redsquirrel]

Just ordered another ropeman 1 and some new webbing. Didn't need the webbing but bought 13.50 worth to save 8.00 on shipping.
If it gets here by the weekend I'm trying it out.
Red Upon first look your foot looked long. On second thought is it long enough to keep the ascender from ever coming into contact with the stepp.

I have only done this with the kong duck FYI. You will probably need to put a biner in there to attach your foot loop with a ropeman.
Yes, the foot loop does seem long. It ended up at that length through some trial and error. A long tether with a long foot loop seemed to work very good.

 

[Hailey_Phillips]

I have a question, I'm new to this whole 'minimalist' climbing, but is the aider in this set up with the stepps designed to take the place of every other step? As in, aider-step-raise aider-step, and so forth?


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[drew13]

Very interesting... The step stays stable in the horizontal direction?

It wiggles some, but not so much as to be scary to me...

 

[redsquirrel]

I have a question, I'm new to this whole 'minimalist' climbing, but is the aider in this set up with the stepps designed to take the place of every other step? As in, aider-step-raise aider-step, and so forth?


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Yes

 

[Hailey_Phillips]

Yes

Good deal, I thought so. Making sure I wasn't missing something. Seems like a really good idea!


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[Thedevine]

So I've hinted at this a couple times (finally a project done @g2outdoors!), and I'm finally ready to go live with it. I've been tinkering with this system for a good part of the summer trying to figure out the best way to do it (for me!). @justsomedude posted something very similar to my aider, I think it was in his climbing stirrups thread.

The inspiration: the wild edge aider system. I did not like how it worked though. When I first tried it I wasn't good at putting the stepps on yet, and trying to put them on above my head was even more of a challenge.

I realized that I could put an ascender on a piece of climbing rope, girth hitch it around the tree and put an aider on it to climb and it would do the same thing. Plus having the ascender is HUGE. You can put your foot in it low and move it up and it will make it easier to get on the next step. Or you can do the opposite to lower yourself down coming down.

Options: I first started doing this with cranford rope steps. I can do it but it does require some athleticism to stand one footed on the step while you put your next step on. But the benefit is the rope steps are smaller and lighter.
The wild edge stepps work a little easier for this because you can stand with both feet while you put the next stepp on.
Rope steps: 0.5 pounds each, plus 2/3 pound aider so 6 steps is 3.66 pounds.
Wild edge steps 1 pound each, plus 2/3 pound aider, so 6 stepps is 6.66 pounds.

Height: 6 steps plus stepping up to my step platform will put me at 25 feet to my feet. I am only 5'7".
Advantage over sticks: This setup packs down compact and I can carry it in a pack.
Advantage over current wild edge aider: I'm only dealing with one stepp at a time and I'm not hanging an aider off a stepp.
Climbing time: With both the rope steps and the wild edge stepps I have been averaging around 10 minutes to climb.
Safety: If I'm a couple miles back I don't want to have to worry about things going south. I see some guys using the multi step aiders to get up a tree. If that works for you, great, but I've had aiders try to spin out on sticks and I just don't want to mess with it going all the way up the tree while I'm way back there.
Sidenote: It actually seems that the higher I get the aider attached to the tree, the more stable it is when I'm going up. You also don't want to mess with the side or low side of a tree, gravity will pull you that way.
Question marks: I still need to find a better bag for storing the system.

Technique: Girth hitch rope aider on the tree as high as I can above my head. Put stepp on tree at the level of my chest. Place foot into aider loop and pull the tag end of the rope to raise ascender as high as I can raise my foot. Step up on aider with toe against the tree and step onto the wild edge stepp. It is very helpful to use the rope to pull my body up also. Immediately raise the rope as high as I can reach above my head again. Lower ascender on the rope so it will be easy to put my foot in the loop next time. Place next stepp on the tree at chest level. Repeat this for all of the stepps. I am using a lineman's belt during the entire climb.

-Nice work @redsquirrel! Are you putting the aider down through the step to prevent potential sway while climbing?

 

[redsquirrel]

-Nice work @redsquirrel! Are you putting the aider down through the step to prevent potential sway while climbing?

Thanks! No I haven't found it necessary.

 

[skell]

@redsquirrel You have me convinced to give the adjustable aider a try...I'm going to give the tether/foot loop combo a try. How long is your foot loop? Did you experiment with different lengths? Thanks!

 

[redsquirrel]

@redsquirrel You have me convinced to give the adjustable aider a try...I'm going to give the tether/foot loop combo a try. How long is your foot loop? Did you experiment with different lengths? Thanks!

The foot loop is about 32 inches. The rope is about 8 feet. I started with the foot loop smaller but (I can't remember why right now) ended up needing to make it longer. I thought the rope would be way long but it ends up being a really good length.

 

[Thedevine]

So I've hinted at this a couple times (finally a project done @g2outdoors!), and I'm finally ready to go live with it. I've been tinkering with this system for a good part of the summer trying to figure out the best way to do it (for me!). @justsomedude posted something very similar to my aider, I think it was in his climbing stirrups thread.

The inspiration: the wild edge aider system. I did not like how it worked though. When I first tried it I wasn't good at putting the stepps on yet, and trying to put them on above my head was even more of a challenge.

I realized that I could put an ascender on a piece of climbing rope, girth hitch it around the tree and put an aider on it to climb and it would do the same thing. Plus having the ascender is HUGE. You can put your foot in it low and move it up and it will make it easier to get on the next step. Or you can do the opposite to lower yourself down coming down.

Options: I first started doing this with cranford rope steps. I can do it but it does require some athleticism to stand one footed on the step while you put your next step on. But the benefit is the rope steps are smaller and lighter.
The wild edge stepps work a little easier for this because you can stand with both feet while you put the next stepp on.
Rope steps: 0.5 pounds each, plus 2/3 pound aider so 6 steps is 3.66 pounds.
Wild edge steps 1 pound each, plus 2/3 pound aider, so 6 stepps is 6.66 pounds.

Height: 6 steps plus stepping up to my step platform will put me at 25 feet to my feet. I am only 5'7".
Advantage over sticks: This setup packs down compact and I can carry it in a pack.
Advantage over current wild edge aider: I'm only dealing with one stepp at a time and I'm not hanging an aider off a stepp.
Climbing time: With both the rope steps and the wild edge stepps I have been averaging around 10 minutes to climb.
Safety: If I'm a couple miles back I don't want to have to worry about things going south. I see some guys using the multi step aiders to get up a tree. If that works for you, great, but I've had aiders try to spin out on sticks and I just don't want to mess with it going all the way up the tree while I'm way back there.
Sidenote: It actually seems that the higher I get the aider attached to the tree, the more stable it is when I'm going up. You also don't want to mess with the side or low side of a tree, gravity will pull you that way.
Question marks: I still need to find a better bag for storing the system.

Technique: Girth hitch rope aider on the tree as high as I can above my head. Put stepp on tree at the level of my chest. Place foot into aider loop and pull the tag end of the rope to raise ascender as high as I can raise my foot. Step up on aider with toe against the tree and step onto the wild edge stepp. It is very helpful to use the rope to pull my body up also. Immediately raise the rope as high as I can reach above my head again. Lower ascender on the rope so it will be easy to put my foot in the loop next time. Place next stepp on the tree at chest level. Repeat this for all of the stepps. I am using a lineman's belt during the entire climb.

Is the bag you have pictured what you use to carry this complete climbing system? or do you carry the steps a different way when you climb? Thanks

 

[redsquirrel]

Is the bag you have pictured what you use to carry this complete climbing system? or do you carry the steps a different way when you climb? Thanks

That bag has the entire climbing system in it, 6 stepps and my aider. I am looking for a slightly larger bag so that I can fit my platform in it and maybe another stepp. I anticipate that as we get later in the season I won't be able to reach quite as far and another stepp may be helpful.

 

[justsomedude]

Red,

Have you hunted with this yet? I just wonder if it is worth the trouble. I DEFINITELY understand the benefit of having something that packs down.

I am trying to stick to methods that are either VERY compact and light (SRT, Aider only, Tree Bolts, Screw Steps) or very easy (I just ordered some Muddy Pro Sticks).

 

[redsquirrel]

Red,

Have you hunted with this yet? I just wonder if it is worth the trouble. I DEFINITELY understand the benefit of having something that packs down.

I am trying to stick to methods that are either VERY compact and light (SRT, Aider only, Tree Bolts, Screw Steps) or very easy (I just ordered some Muddy Pro Sticks).

JSD,
Today will be the first hunt, so I'll give more feedback on this as I use it. Hunting with something is always the real test.

It is always finding a balance between weight, ease of use, convenience and safety along with what method you are allowed to use where you hunt.
For me, SRT, bolts and screw in steps are all great options when I can use a pre-set tree. Spurs are great for mobile hunting where they're allowed. All of these methods hit all of those checkpoints for me and I use them all. I've been on a quest to find that mobile strap on option that fits them also. I think this may be a good fit. I have not tried climbing with only an aider but I don't have much interest in doing so. I feel much safer having something solid to stand on while I set my next step.

 

[justsomedude]

JSD,
It is always finding a balance between weight, ease of use, convenience and safety along with what method you are allowed to use where you hunt.
.... I have not tried climbing with only an aider but I don't have much interest in doing so. I feel much safer having something solid to stand on while I set my next step.

AGREED!
You should try Aider only though. Especially with two Ropeman. I wouldn't recommend it at all if I didn't feel totally safe doing it. It just requires some technique and patience. And if you are rigged for Rappel descent, even better